Decking beam rack apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A method for management of conventional decking beams incorporates unique racks with special features facilitating the organization, storage, protection, and shipping of decking beams when the decking beams are not in use supporting shipments of cargo. Additional features facilitate stacking of racks when loaded with beams; and for stacking of empty racks themselves in minimal space for their storage or transportation when not in use. Identification of beams and of racks for wireless location-tracking is included.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/354,017, filed Jan. 15, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

For shipping freight by land, sea or air, it is usually desirable tomaximize the density of packing, within the available cargo space andthe load carrying ability of the transporter. But packing density alsomay be limited by the nature of the materials themselves or the natureof the packaging of the materials being shipped. Otherwise materials orpackaging can be crushed.

To address this issue in transporters such as trailers for hauling overland and in ocean shipping containers and, possibly, in air freightplanes, they are equipped with horizontal and/or vertical slotted trackson the inside surfaces of facing walls of the cargo space. These slotsare used to receive ends of decking beams extending across the spacebetween the walls of the trailer or container.

Decking beams, sometimes referred to as load bars, load beams, logisticsbars or logistic beams, for example, are optional equipment; they arenot part of a trailer or container. They may be the property of thecarrier or the property of the shipper. Usually decking beams are in theform of a tube or a bar, usually made of aluminum or steel, with an endpiece “footer” extendable at each end and which has a hook or some otherconnector which can be fitted in the slots in the tracks at facing wallsin the cargo compartment. An example of a decking beam and installationmore than thirty years ago, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,174. Amore recent system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,667 issued Aug.24, 1999. The beams may be mounted at selectable heights to bestaccommodate the nature and size of the cargo to be transported, tominimize or eliminate stacking of packages or pallets of cargo. Thebeams are spaced along the length of the cargo space at locationsappropriate for the cargo to be supported. Their function is to increaseload capacity of the transporter without excessive stacking of cargo.

Decking beams are produced by several manufacturers. The dimensions of adecking beam are approximately 2.5″×4″×94″ when the “footers” atopposite ends are retracted. The weight of a decking beam isapproximately thirty pounds each. They must be manually set in placeduring the loading process and manually removed during the unloadingprocess. We believe it would be advantageous to have the beamsconveniently stored in a rack that can be moved along a loading dock orfrom door to door in a warehouse, to be in close proximity to the siteof loading or unloading a trailer or container. In addition, many loadsthat utilize decking beams are one-way moves. In such cases, if thetrailer is to return empty to the point of origin, it may be necessarythat the beams go along with it, for re-use without being actually usedduring the return trip. Return trips without loads are not productive.There is a need for better management of decking beams. The presentinvention is directed to meeting this need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of a new decking beam rack.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side view thereof, loaded with decking beams.

FIG. 5 is an end view thereof, loaded with decking beams.

FIG. 6 is a side view of two decking beam racks of another new deckingbeam rack, with one of the two racks stacked on the other of the tworacks and without any decking beams on the racks.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the upper rack takenat line 7-7 in FIG. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top view of a fragment of a bottom rail socketlocation as viewed (without post 47) at line 8-8 in FIG. 6 and viewed inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 and without anydecking beams on it and some posts stored within it.

FIG. 10 is view of an end panel removed from the rack.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the decking beam rack showing some deckingbeams of a first layer resting on the top frame of the rack but not yetlined up; and showing schematically, an example of fork-lift truckaccess at an end and at a side of the rack.

FIG. 12 is a top view with the decking beams on the rack and showinglifting forks at both ends of the rack, and side posts stored beside thefork receiver opening in one end as in FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 8 but showing a section through a solidsocket welded into a frame side member.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but without the beams and storedposts, but showing end panels stored on the upper frame above the areaswhere the posts can be stored inside as in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of a wireless rack-tracking system.

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of a wireless decking-beamidentifying system.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a portion of a rack according to a thirdembodiment.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the rack of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the rack of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged elevation view of an end post for the rack ofFIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of an aspect of the present invention includes a deckingbeam rack used to organize, store, protect, and ship decking beams whenthey are not in use.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the decking beam rack includes a rectangularframe 11, with legs 12 providing some support for the frame 11 at aheight about four inches above some surface such as a loading dock orwarehouse floor. The four legs 12 have stacking cups 13 at their lowerends and which have downwardly-opening cavities 13C in them. Runners orskids 14 are fixed to the frame 11 at the ends and at the stacking cups.Braces 15 are secured to the runners and frame between the end of theframe and the legs. The upturned front face 14F of the runners is usefulto serve as a bumper. The legs, cups, runners and braces provide lowerframework supporting the frame 11.

Intermediate posts 16 are pinned at 17 to the upper ends of the legs toenable pivoting the posts downward in the direction of the arrows 18when the rack is empty and collapsed for stacking of racks in temporarystorage. This feature can also be used when decking beams are beingloaded onto or unloaded from either side of the rack.

End panels 19 are provided at each end of the rack. Each of them has aset of vertically spaced horizontal bars 21 mounted in a pair of posts22 mounted in the upstanding sockets 23 in the frame ends. These panelscan be removed by simply pulling the posts out of the sockets. Then thepanels can be laid on the frame when the posts 16 are folded down tocollapse the rack. Or, the end panels can be hinged like the posts 16 tofold down to be in the same horizontal plane as the intermediate postsfor convenient stacking of empty racks on each other to store at themanufacturer's site for shipment from the manufacturer to a customer,and at any other time when the racks might not be in use.

The tops of the posts 16 are tapered, preferably in a frusto-pyramidalshape at 16C, to receive the stacking cups of another rack mounted abovethe one as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 3. This feature is usefulwhen the racks are loaded with decking beams and waiting in a warehouse,loading dock, or in a transport trailer or container, or in transit froman origin to a destination.

Considering the size and shape of the rack, expected to be approximately48 inches wide, 32 inches tall if to be stacked three high in a truck,or 48 inches high if to be stacked two high, and 98 inches long in onemodel, or 104 inches long in another, to hold about eighty deckingbeams, provision is made for easy movement and control of it by afork-lift vehicle. This includes a fork receiver 24 (FIG. 5) near eachend of the frame and which includes a generally U-shaped guide 25 with acenter guide rail 26, all fixed to frame cross-members such as 27 at theend, and 28 spaced from the end. The racks can be stacked as indicatedby the dotted lines in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 14, FIG. 6 shows another embodiment ofdecking beam racks. Rack 31 is on the floor 32, and rack 33 is supportedby rack 31. Rack 31 is almost identical to rack 33 so a description ofrack 31 will suffice for both. The rack has an upper frame 34 comprisingupper side rails 36 and upper end rails 37 (FIG. 6). It also has fourcross members 38 (FIGS. 6, 11 and 12) welded to the side members. Thereis also bottom framework extending from both ends of the rack toward thecenter. There are two end box frames 41. A description of one willsuffice for both. It includes bottom rails 42, one at each side of therack, with tying cross members 43 at locations directly under the crossmembers 38 of the upper frame. An arm 44 is fixed to and extends upwardfrom each of the rails 42 at the ends of the rack and supports the endrail 37 of the upper frame. A lower end rail 46 (FIGS. 6 and 9) extendsacross the frame between the junctions of side rails 42 and columns 44.

Intermediate removable posts 47 are provided at four locations on therack. These posts are tubes of rectangular cross section and arereceived through holes 50 at four locations in the frame side members36. The same type of construction is provided for the upper frame sidemembers 49 of the upper rack. The upper and lower ends of each of theposts are frusto-pyramidal shaped and received in sockets of the sameshape in the rails 42 of the rack 31. The detail of this feature is bestshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, showing the detail of one of the sockets in thelower side rail 48 of the upper beam rack 33 in FIG. 6. With the lowerand upper side rails 48 and 49, respectively of the upper rack, both ofwhich are of rectangular tube cross section, the hole in the upper rail49 is large enough for the post 47 to slide through the hole. Thefrusto-pyramidal lower end 52 of the post is received in thesimilarly-shaped socket upper wall 53. The tapers between the socketwall and the post wall are of a non-locking wedge such that, whendesired to remove the post, it can be removed from the socket forstorage, but when needed to be stable in the socket it will besufficiently tight to confine beams stacked (as in the FIG. 4embodiment) and support the load of an upper rack of beams on the upperend of such post. Thus, while it is a stable wedge connection, it is notlocking.

The ends of all the posts are shaped alike so that the posts can be usedwith either end serving to be stable in a socket in which it isreceived, whether it is in the lower one of the two racks or in theupper one of the two racks or in more racks if needed for storing beamsin multiple superimposed (stacked) racks.

Referring further to FIGS. 7, 8 and 13, the socket detail at 53 in FIG.7 can be a formed-in piece welded or otherwise secured in the tube 48with an opening 56 between the lower end of the post 47 above it and theupper end of the post 47 below it. Other construction may also be used.An example is in FIG. 13 where a solid block 57 having upper and lowerpost receiver cavities 58 and 59, respectively, are formed in it toreceive the lower end of an upper post and the upper end of the lowerpost. This block 57 may be an insert slid into place from one end of therail 42 for the lower rack (48 for the upper rack) and welded in placealigned with openings 61 and 62 provided in the upper face and lowerface of the rail 48, respectively, and, the block 57 welded in place inthe tubing. One alternative to that assembly style is to cut the tube 42and weld the block between the cut ends of the tube 42. Other means ofproviding a socket may also be devised. While the upwardly opening anddownwardly opening sockets are intended to have interfitting tapers withthe tapers of the posts 47, they are not intended to be interlocking.Therefore, while the connections of the posts to the sockets make theposts immovable longitudinally or laterally of the rails 42 and 48, theposts can be readily pulled vertically from the sockets to facilitateremoval from the racks and storage of the posts between the top andbottom frame cross members of a rack as shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, there is provided room for storage of four of theintermediate posts 47 between the top frame cross members 38 and thebottom frame cross members 43 and 46, at each end of the frame. For thisembodiment of the rack, a lift-fork receiver tube is provided in each bythe upper frame cross members and lower frame cross members and sideguides 63 and 64 (FIG. 9) so, as shown in FIG. 11, the lifting forks 66and 67 of the fork-lift truck 68 can enter in the direction of arrow 69and pick up a rack empty or loaded with decking beams 71, for example,and move it across a storage yard, a loading dock or floor of awarehouse or into or out of a semi-trailer, for example. Similarly, afork receiver 70 can also be provided in the same way at the oppositeend of the rack.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an option in that the bottom siderails 42 of the lower rack, end at intermediate cross members 43, butthe lower side rails 48 of the upper rack are continuous. Entry of liftforks from either side or end of the racks is indicated in FIGS. 11 and12. The space 72 between cross members 43 at the bottom frame portions41 of the lower rack provides more vertical space for entry of the liftforks to engage the bottom of the upper frame rail 36 and eitherintermediate rail 39 or 40 on either side of the rack. Lift fork entryat the sides of both FIG. 6 versions, of the rack is ample. Similarly,either version of the rack can be used as the bottom rack in a stack ofracks loaded with beams.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the end panel 74 which is constructed inessentially the same manner as that shown in 17 in FIG. 3. It has endposts 76 which can be constructed as are intermediate posts 47 andreceived in sockets 77 in four corners of the upper frame. The sockets77 are provided only in the upwardly opening direction and are otherwisesimilar to those provided as shown FIGS. 7, 8 and 13. Crossbars 78 arevertically spaced along the end posts 76.

For use of the rack for storage of decking beams, they may be placed onthe rack by hand or by machine and extend the length of the rack. Theintermediate posts can be placed in the sockets on the rack wheneverdesired by the loaders. Similarly, the end frames 74 may also beinstalled at the preference of the loaders to retain the beams when inplace between the end frames when the rack is moved forward or backward.

If, and when, it is necessary to store the racks themselves withoutbeams on them, the racks can be readily converted to a flatconfiguration and stored in stacks. For this purpose, the fourintermediate posts 47 are pulled out of their sockets and all four canbe inserted into the one end of the rack as shown in FIG. 9 or two canbe inserted at each end. The opposite end portions of the posts aresupported by lower frame cross members 46 and 43. The end panels 74,being flat, can be placed flat on top of the cross members 38 and endmembers 37 in the top of the frame. Therefore, as an example, if theassembly of one rack erected with the intermediate posts 47 and endpanels 74 installed, is 30 inches, but the total height of just bottomframe 42 and top frame 36 is about six inches, the storage of the endpanels 74 on top of the cross member 38 makes a total height of the rackwhen converted to storage, about eight inches. Therefore, numerous emptyracks can be stacked in a reasonable area and height in a warehouse ortransported from place to place in a semi-trailer or on a wagon.

In FIG. 15, there is a schematic representation of a tractor,semi-trailer combination containing seven beam racks which do not haveany beams on them. Each of such racks would have a unique identifier “R”(FIG. 11) bearing a number or letter or other combination of featuresfor identifying this rack and distinguishing it from all other deckingbeam racks. The identifiers can be useful in association with one ormore satellites 86 of a global positioning system (GPS), or otherwireless location determination system, to identify that rack in thattrailer in transit, thus locating the rack relative to a control center87.

In FIG. 16, the schematic representation includes beams loaded on theracks in the semi-trailer 82. Each beam 71 has a unique identifierdevice “B” (FIG. 4) bearing a number or letter or other combination offeatures for identifying that beam and distinguishing it from all otherbeams. The identifiers can be useful in association with a wirelesslocating and identifying system such as mentioned above for finding andidentifying not only the racks, but also for the beams as well.

A variety of technologies is available for such functions. A usefulguideline for selection of equipment is that it be RFID (radio frequencyidentification devices) compatible. In addition to use of such a systemfor tracking and identifying while racks and/or beams are in transit, itcan be useful at a control center 81 at a warehouse or some shippingterminal where beams 71 or racks, loaded or empty might be stored, forkeeping an inventory, and for finding their particular locations as theyare moved around in an area in which radio frequency identificationdevices (RFID) can be used.

In FIGS. 17-20, a third embodiment of decking beam rack and componentsis shown. In this embodiment, a base 91 is provided with four postsockets in the corners. Viewing the rack in the direction of arrow 89,there is a base 91, a right-hand post 92, a left-hand post 93, andsimilar posts at the opposite end of the rack. For example, as shown inFIG. 19, a hole 94 extends from the bottom of the base to the top of thebase at the end of the rack. The upper portion of this hole 94 istypically square in cross-section, and receives the bottom portion 97 ofthe post 92. The post has a flange 98 which extends from the outer faceof the post inwardly toward the center of the rack. This flange providesa slot 93S which faces post 93 and receives an end panel 101 (FIG. 18)closing the end of the rack. The post 93 is of construction like that ofpost 92 but with the slot facing the slot in post 92. So it cooperateswith post 92 in holding the panel 101 which can be raised out of theslot or installed in the slot, when desired.

The length of the rack between end panels 101 is great enough (about 98inches) to contain decking beams useful in highway trailers operating inthe United States. The end posts are about three inches square.Considering the fact that decking beams are made by numerousmanufacturers, and are not always of exactly the same length, the endposts are each provided with a side extension panel such as 102 fixed tothe post. These are about 3 inches wide. If decking beams a bit shorterthan standard are encountered, these post extensions in the direction ofarrow 89 will confine the beams to prevent them from falling off thesides of the rack. Since this embodiment of the rack is intended to becapable of supporting another fully loaded rack on top of it, a lowerportion 103 of the socket 94 is a frusto-pyramidal shape to be receivedon the frusto-pyramidal top portion 104 of the post 92 under it. Thelower ends of the flange 98 at 98B, and of the extension panel 102 at102L rests on top of the base at 91U supporting the post on the base. Astabilizer bar 106 has a hole 107 at each end of the bar. These holesare sized and shaped (usually square) to be received on the rectangularportion of the stem at the top of the posts to maintain a fixed spacingbetween the upper ends of the posts when another rack is mounted on thisrack in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3 for the firstembodiment of the invention, and in FIG. 6 for the second embodiment ofthe invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the end of the stabilizer bar servesas a collar resting on top of the post 92 and which is available tosupport the bottom 91B of any rack that is stacked on top of this firstrack.

The base of the rack has two longitudinally-extending channels, or tubes109 (if desired) to receive the lifting forks of a fork-lift truck fromeither or both ends, if desired. Similarly, there are two transverseextending channels or tubes 111 to enable access of lifting forks forlifting of the rack from either side of the rack with a fork-lift truck.

After use of the rack for storing or transporting beams, the rack can becollapsed for convenient storage or transportation of the racksthemselves if and when needed. For this purpose, the end panels 101 canbe lifted out of their slots 93S and placed flat on the central storagearea 112, fitting between the transverse ribs 113 on the base 91. Theribs are high enough to fit both end panels 101 on top of each otherbetween the ribs. Also, in order to prevent sliding of the stored panelsoff the sides of the rack, rails 114 are provided between the ribs 113at each side of the rack. For storage of the stabilizer bars and endposts, there are compartments 116 extending inward from each end of therack and having a door 117 at each end, closing the compartment. So twoposts and one stabilizer bar can be stored in each of the compartments,from each end of the rack. If it happens that the overall length of thestorage compartment 116 will not accommodate the approximately 44 incheslength of the stabilizer bar, a hinge can be provided at 106B to enablefolding to fit in the storage compartment long with the posts whoseoverall length from end to end is typically more than 32 inches but lessthan 42 inches. As mentioned above, the overall cross-sectionaldimension of the posts, excluding the flange 98 and extension panel 102,is three inches by three inches. As mentioned above for thepreviously-described embodiments, the tapers on the posts and socketsare non-locking to avoid a jamming which could otherwise make itdifficult to remove the upper rack from the lower one of a pair ofstacked racks. It might be noted, particularly from viewing FIG. 18,that the post 92 on the right-side of the rack at the left-end end is ofthe same configuration as the post on the left side of the rack on theopposite end. This feature accommodates the end panels 101 at each endof the rack. It also provide an effective side margin for containment ofthe beams on the rack at both ends so that, beams from variousmanufacturers and which may have some differences in manufacturingtolerance, will still be contained within the side margins defined bylines between the extension panels at each end of the rack.

For purposes of example but without limitation, the overall length L-1of a rack is preferably from 96 to 98 inches for use with beams used intrucks. It is 110 to 118 inches for transporting decking beams of alength useful in railway cars. The overall width W-1 of the rack for usein trucks is preferably 48 inches, while the overall width of racks foruse in railway cars is 50-54 inches. The distance D-1 between the rails113 for storage of the end panels 101 is preferably 32 inches to easilyaccommodate the height of the panel 101 from the top 91U of the base andthe top of the slot in the post. The overall height of the base 91 fromthe bottom 91B to the top 91U is about nine inches. While the majorityof the material of construction of the base, the posts and thestabilizer bars is preferably fabricated steel plate, other materialsmay also be found suitable. A variety of materials may be used for theend panels 101. Plywood, sheet metal, solid or perforated or “expanded”metal grating or other materials suitable for endwise location andretention of a load of beams can be used. Material having openings in itcan be helpful for manually counting beams in a load, as is true of theother racks. Similarly to the other racks, unique rack identifyingindicia such as “R” can be employed on this rack.

It can be seen that this rack is totally collapsible from its erectcondition for storing and shipping decking beams, and stacking racksloaded with beams, to its collapsed condition for stacking empty rackson top of each other.

In summary, the decking beam racks disclosed above are storage andshipping devices to address the various problems mentioned above indealing with decking beams.

The racks can be collapsed when not in use, for more efficient shippingand storage of empty racks.

The racks can be easily moved from either direction with a forklifttruck.

The racks provide users of decking beams with a convenient and mobilestorage unit in a warehouse environment and also may be handled with astandard size forklift for ease of loading into trailers, vans, orcontainers for efficient shipping of decking beams.

Because of the relatively uniform width of trailers and containers onpublic highways in the United States, decking beams are of relativelythe same length and so the decking beam racks herein would be compatibleto virtually all commercial trailers and containers.

The decking beam rack can be knocked down (for storage when not in use),or set-up for loading/unloading (of the beams in and out of the rack) orset-up for shipping (of the rack full of beams in and out of the traileror container).

The decking beam rack will serve users of decking beams by providing:

1. Protection from damage of the beams.

2. Organization of beams into handle-able quantities.

3. Mobility of beams inside the warehouse with a standard forklift.

4. Efficient transport between warehouses on trailers or containers.

5. Inventory control since beams may be counted from one end.

Various materials suitable for the racks are readily available. Forexample only, but without limiting choices, steel tubing of rectangularcross section or steel plate can be suitable. Examples of technologyuseful for wireless identification and location work can be found inU.S. Pat. No. 6,784,809, and Application No. US 2007/0040677. There aremany others.

1. A first rack for holding decking beams which are used to supportcargo in transportation vehicles, said rack comprising: an elongaterectangular base having a footprint length sufficient for the base toretain said decking beams within the footprint of the base when thebeams are placed on top of the base lengthwise of the base, and the basehaving a footprint width sufficient to retain a layer of said deckingbeams placed on the top of the base side by side; four sockets in arectangular pattern on the base; four posts, each of said posts receivedin a different one of said four sockets, said posts normally verticallydisposed in said sockets to retain said beams within the footprint ofthe base when the beams are in place on the top of the base; and whereinthe base is arranged to store said posts in a collapsed condition whenbeams are removed from said top of the base.
 2. The rack of claim 1 andwherein: the posts and sockets are in four corners of the base; theposts are removable from the sockets to enable collapse of said rack forstorage of the rack; and the base has storage space in the base toreceive and contain said posts when removed from the sockets.
 3. Therack of claim 2 and wherein said posts have longitudinal axes, and slotsextending parallel to said axes, the rack further comprising: end panelsreceived in said slots to limit said beams from moving lengthwiseoutside the footprint of the base, and wherein said end panels areremovable from said slots; and said base has a storage area sized toreceive and store said end panels, when removed from said slots forstorage of said rack.
 4. The rack of claim 3 and further comprising:post tops shaped to facilitate reception and retention of another rackstacked on top of said first-mentioned rack; and a stabilizer barreceivable on said post tops to extend across the space between tops oftwo of said posts to stabilize said two posts for facilitating loadingof said another rack onto said first-mentioned rack.
 5. The rack ofclaim 1 and wherein said base portion includes: an upper frame portionwhich is elongate, for receiving and supporting decking beams on it forstorage and transport of said decking beams; at least one lower frameportion having a bottom surface for placement on a floor surface forsupporting said upper frame portion spaced above said floor surface;spaced side members of said upper frame portion; spaced front and rearcross members extending through space between said side members andfixed to said side members; and said posts are normally disposed in avertical attitude at locations on said side members for inhibiting fallof decking beams over side members of said first rack, said posts beingmovable from a vertical attitude enabling support of an additional rack,toward horizontal attitude for collapsing said first rack.
 6. The rackof claim 5 and wherein: said upper frame portion has a length of between96 and 106 inches, and width between 35 and 48; and the height of saidrack from said bottom surface of said lower frame portion to upper endsof said posts when said posts are disposed in said vertical attitude isbetween 30 and 48 inches.
 7. The rack of claim 5 and wherein: saidsockets are on said lower frame portions; said posts have lower endsreceived in said sockets; and said posts are removable upward by handfrom said sockets for storage.
 8. The rack of claim 7 and wherein: saidstorage space is between said upper frame portion and said lower frameportion for receipt and storage of at least some of said posts afterremoval of said posts from said sockets.
 9. The rack of claim 5 andwherein: said posts are pivotally mounted to said upper frame portion topivot from said vertical attitude downward toward said horizontalattitude for collapsing said rack.
 10. The rack of claim 5 and wherein:certain ones of said sockets are shaped to receive ends of said postsentered into said certain sockets from above and from below said certainones of said sockets, and prevent said post ends from movement indirections transverse to longitudinal axes of said posts.
 11. The rackof claim 5 and wherein: said upper frame side members have uppersurfaces about six inches from said bottom surface of said lower frameportion.
 12. The rack of claim 5 and wherein: said upper and lower frameportions are vertically spaced at sides and ends of said upper frameportion, providing openings at the sides and ends of said rack toreceive lifting forks of a fork-lift truck to positions under the upperframe portion for a single fork-lift truck to lift the rack from eitherside or either end of the rack.
 13. The rack of claim 12 and furthercomprising: a pair of end posts at each end of the upper frame portion,and supporting panels closing the respective ends of said upper frameportion above said openings at the ends of said upper frame portion, toinhibit decking beams when resting on said upper frame portion, fromsliding lengthwise.
 14. The rack of claim 13 and wherein: said sideposts are foldable and end posts are removable to enable stacking ofsaid upper frame portions with said posts and panels flat to minimalheight for transporting racks without decking beams on them.
 15. Therack of claim 5 and further comprising: an identifier device mounted onone of said frame portions to facilitate wireless identification of saidrack.
 16. A method of management of decking beams which are used tosupport cargo in transportation vehicles, comprising: keeping track ofcounts of decking beams and locations of decking beams in an inventoryof decking beams under management; keeping track of decking beams in usetransporting merchandise; keeping track of decking beams beingtransported but not being used; keeping track of decking beams stored instorage racks moveable by fork lift truck; and responding to customerrequests for decking beams by reporting to the customer, theavailability, and location, and providing for pick-up or delivery ofdecking beams.
 17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising: usingwireless location determination system for locating said racks.
 18. Themethod of claim 16 and further comprising: providing on each of saiddecking beams, a unique identifier different from the others of saiddecking beams, for tracking individual decking beams.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 and further comprising: providing for tracking said deckingbeams, communication with a wireless location-determination systemresponsive to said identifiers.
 20. The method of claim 18 and furthercomprising: using bar coding on said beams for said identifiers.